Voices Beneath the Waves, written by one of our members Sarah Goodall, is available as an audio play. Many of the BATS team have been working hard to produce our first audio play and it is now ready. Please do provide us with your feedback on this historical local story.
The BATS Autumn 2018 production was ‘The Lady in the Van’, written by Alan Bennett and directed by Sian Cole.
Cast members :-
Miss Shepherd – Julie Greenwood
Alan Bennett – Steve Richardson
Alan Bennett 2 – Roger Bell
Mam – Wendy Thomas
Rufus – Barry Cooper
Pauline – Heather Cooper
Social Worker – Helen Gwilliam
Underwood – Stewart Hiorns
Leo Fairchild and Mam’s Doctor – Dave Spear
Lout and Miss Shepherd’s Doctor – Laurence Evans
Interviewer and Ambulance driver – Karen Penny
Sian Cole’s Directors Blog
The rehearsals are going really well and the whole cast are just brilliant! There have been frantic back stage preparations for lighting, sound, props and costumes, and, as always, everyone has worked hard to make this another extraordinary production.The two Alans’ in their matching costumes are just mesmerizing; Miss Shepherd in her old, soiled cloths provides an amazing surly performance; with the rest of the cast adding their own distinctive character to make this a memorable show.
First Night Success
For the director, actors, technicians and the support staff, the first night of any show can produce some nervous moments…will I remember my lines, when do I come on stage, I must remember my stage props, etc. However, the first night of this production was just amazing. The two Alans and Miss Shepard delivered brilliant performances. I did notice that several members of the audience provided a standing ovation at the end. Congratulations to everyone at BATS for a wonderful show.
Audience Reviews
‘A polished and professional production ‘
‘Amazing staging and acting especially on such a small stage’
‘Great performances from all the cast’
‘A wonderful rapport between Alan Bennett and Miss Shepherd, both tender and full of humour’
‘Miss Shepherd was mesmerising’
‘How did you get the real Alan Bennett to agree to do this?!’
‘Your lady rivals Dame Maggie Smith!’
‘A polished and professional production ‘
‘Amazing staging and acting especially on such a small stage’
‘Great performances from all the cast’
‘A wonderful rapport between Alan Bennett and Miss Shepherd, both tender and full of humour’
‘Miss Shepherd was mesmerising’
‘How did you get the real Alan Bennett to agree to do this?!’
‘Your lady rivals Dame Maggie Smith!’
Thank you to our wonderful audience for coming to the show.
For the director, actors, technicians and the support staff, the first night of any show can produce some nervous moments…will I remember my lines, when do I come on stage, I must remember my stage props, etc. However, BATS first night of this production was just amazing. The two Alans and Miss Shepard delivered brilliant performances. I did notice that several members of the audience provided a standing ovation at the end. Congratulations to everyone at BATS for a wonderful show.
To celebrate 50 years of BATS, a party was held in September for members past and present and of course our loyal patrons. Live entertainment was provided by singer Deano Martini www.deanomartini.com and close up magician Dave Hitchcott www.mellusion.co.uk, with canapés and bubbles to accompany a wonderful birthday cake. Everyone that attended the 50th celebration party had a wonderful time and one of our founding members, Dorothy Morris cut the cake to celebrate this memorable evening.
BATS have provided live theatre to the Gower area for 50 years, a big achievement and one worth celebrating. The variety of directors over the years has ensured a range of plays have been shown, providing a range of genres for our audiences.
Not one to shy away from challenges our November production is ‘Tom Jones’ with a large cast, many scene changes and props. The play is an ambitious one but a perfect way to celebrate 50 years. Tickets on sale soon.
Last week the Hope Amateur Dramatic Independent Theatre (HADIT) presented a production of “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn. Some of you may be wondering about Hope’s connection with BATS? A look at the following report in The Derbyshire Times will give the answer. Go to http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-and-comedy/review-feel-the-farce-in-noises-off-1-8517935
David and Carolyn Gawres had contacted BATS earlier this year to see if we could advice them on how to stage a play requiring numerous doors, a window, a balcony and staircase in a small village hall. And the set has to be turned 180º between Acts 1 and 2, and again between Acts 2 and 3! Barry gave them advice based our BATS production in 2006 and I helped by sending David the design of the set and details of how we turned the set. Some of you may recognise the set shown in the image in the review.
I was very interested to see how HADIT got on so I went up to see their first night last Wednesday. HADIT are a similar sized group to BATS in a similar hall and I was made to feel very welcome. In the programme BATS were thanked “for their generous advice on producing the play on a small stage.” Of course you may be thinking did HADIT give a better performance than BATS? All I can say is they gave an energetic performance which had the audience rocking with laughter and the curtain call was greeted with cheers and applause.
I have been in touch with David since my visit and he tells me another local group who saw their production were impressed and have contacted him as they want to talk to him about how he did the set!
Alan Bailey – Lighting and Sound Dept.
The first two nights have been very well received by our sell out audiences. The whole cast have been outstanding, as well as some wonderful individual performances and great comic moments. Saturday nights fish and chip supper seemed a gastronomic success. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for their support.
Tickets are still available for the final three performances on Thursday 6th April, Friday 7th April and Saturday 8th April 2017 at St. Teilo’s Church Hall, The Glebe, Bishopston. Doors open at 19:00hrs for a 19:30 hrs show.
Bishopston Amateur Theatrical Society would like to thank all its sponsors in supporting all members of the society and the local community.
Cheers Wine Merchants – www.cheerswinemerchants.co.uk
Effleurage – Telephone 07971929634
Elite Golf Coach – www.elitegolfcoach.com
Exclusively – www.emmaarnold.com
Gower Chemicals – www.gowerchemicals.ltd.uk
John Morse Solicitors – www.johnmorsesolicitors.co.uk
Northway Plastering Services – Telephone 07855900957
Pencil Marks – www.msbcltd.co.uk
The Lamplighter –Telephone 07913774447
The Southgate – www.thesouthgate.co.uk
The Valley – Telephone 01792 234820
Three Cliffs Coffee Shop – www.threecliffs.co.uk
Tickets are still available for the final two performances of Seasons Greetings. Book your tickets to see some superb performances by our talented actors. Doors open at 18:45 at St. Teilo’s Church Hall, The Glebe, Bishopston.
A cold, drizzly, November night was soon forgotten as a sold out audience entered the warmth of St Teilos church hall last night. A buffet supplied by local family caterers “Dillys” offered a choice of tasty, festive nibbles accompanied by a warm mince pie in the interval.
Laughs were a plenty as a cast of well loved and experienced BATS actors staged a comedy with some poignant moments, about the joys of family members getting together over Christmas. Each character had been well written and the actors were evidently enjoying the chance to play quite varied roles. The array of props, 80’s costumes combined with some challenging lighting and sound can’t have made rehearsing the play easy, however the results are fantastic and produce a play not to be missed. Catch it before the end of the run next week
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